Greece's "Aella" Claims an Early Victory This 2016 Season

It is a great start to the 2016 season for AELLA (GRE) and her owner, Miranda Papadopoulou. AELLA claimed 1st place overall in the opening major ORC racing event in Greece - the 43rd Race of the Greek Revolution - Ηydra Island, hosted by the Hellenic Offshore Racing Club.

The event was combined of two 36 nautical mile offshore races from Piraeus to the picturesque Hydra Island and back to Piraeus. A fleet of more than 50 yachts (ORC-IRC) sailed in the Saronic Gulf in testing wind conditions. AELLA earned line honors and 1st place in the first race to Hydra Island (link) and a 3rd place the returning leg (link), making for a great overall win (link) against some very competitive crews and ORC optimized yachts such as the GP42, JV44, and JV 49 to name a few.

Miranda is very enthusiastic about this win with AELLA, as it is the second time she has achieved it. The previous time was in October of 2007 when racing her last race with her previous IMX-38, just a couple of months before AELLA was delivered from Nautors’ Swan.

It looks like a promising year in the light of the (open) ORC European Championship. This regatta will be held in Halkidiki, GRE from July 4-10, 2016.

Report from Quantum Key West Race Week 2016

With Storm Trysail Club taking over the mangement of Quantum Key West Race Week this year, the organizers had their hands full with decisions as high winds prevailed during the week. The opening practice day was cancelled as well as the Tuesday and Friday race days for IRC 2.

Stephen Polk of Bayview Yacht Club (Detroit, MI) participated in IRC 2 with his Swan 42, TSUNAMI. 9 races were completed, just shy of the goal of 10 races. TSUNAMI saved her best for the last day, Thursday, with 3-2-4 finishes.